Liverpool FC

Xavi Alonso seduced by Juventus

2008-06-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

Liverpool's midfielder Xabi Alonso admits he is fascinated by the prospect of joining Juventus.

The Italian Powerhouse are expected to sign the Spanish international for around £16million this summer, and the midfielder admits he has always been fascinated by the prospect of playing in Italy.

"We'll see what will happen with Juventus. It's difficult to say,” said Alonso. "I've spent four fantastic years at Liverpool, but I have to admit that I have always been fascinated by Italian league.

"However, it's too soon to talk about the future. In short - we'll see. Juve are one of the biggest clubs in Europe, perhaps the biggest in Italy. They have many fans, not only in Italy, but all over the world.”

Defeated

2008-05-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

Liverpool had a dream about reaching the glory once again. But this time, it was Chelsea the team that made history, by winning 3 - 2 and reaching the UEFA Champions League final for the first time

Chelsea finally broke the jinx that their Northern rival had held over them in the competition in recent years, despite Yossi Benayoun doing his best to ruin coach Avraham Grant's day.

The Israel captain set up forward star Fernando Torres with a virtuoso display in the second half to level the contest and send it into overtime, after the first leg at Anfield was also tied at 1-1.

But it is was third time lucky for Chelsea. After falling at the same stage twice in the last three years to the Reds, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba scored in front of the Stamford Bridge faithful to pour misery on their bitter rivals.

Indeed, Chelsea was in the ascendency for most of the first half. Didier Drogba looked dangerous, dominating his opponents in the air and on the ground, while Michael Ballack controlled the match in midfield, playing well-timed balls over the top for the Ivorian and the sprightly Salamon Kalou.

Didier Drogba won a corner in the fifth minute and when the ball bobbled out from a scramble in the box, Michael Essein struck it first time from 25 meters, but high over the crossbar.

In the eighth minute, the red team created its best chance of the half when Benayoun hit Chelsea on the counter attack. After Joe Cole was dispossessed on the edge of the Reds' box, the Israeli midfielder played a clever one-two with Steven Gerrard before sliding Fernando Torres through on goal. But the Spaniard could only pummel the ball at keeper Peter Chec and out for a corner.

The african striker continued to threaten Liverpool's nervous defense. First he barged Martin Skrtel over, and Liverpool's January signing had to leave the field, to be substituted by the aging Sammi Hyppia.

Minutes later Drogba, with a point to prove after coming in for criticism by Liverpool coach Benitez in the last couple of days, powered past Jamie Carragher on the left, leaving only goalkeeper Pepe Reina to beat. But the Ivorian slid his left footed shot agonizingly wide of the post.

The breakthrough came in the 31st minute when Salomon Kalou was put clear through on goal and struck a fierce shot from the edge of the box which Pepe Reina did brilliantly to save. But Drogba picked up the rebound and struck an inch-perfect shot past the keepers grasping glove.

Michael Ballack paused over the ball, seemingly allowing the pressure to build on his uneasy opponent. But he could not reproduce the killer touch he showed against Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday's last game. His free kick swerved inches wide of the post and clattered against the metal framework behind.

Talented Dirk Kuyt almost put Liverpool straight back into the tie three minutes into the second half when he latched onto a Gerrard header only three meters out, but Cech got down to block the ball.

As the weather worsened, Liverpool became ever more bogged down, struggling to create anything coherent outside its own half. We can say that Liverpool needed a moment of inspiration and Benayoun provided in the 63rd. He came in from the right, jinking past three home defenders before playing Torres through on goal. This time Liverpool's top scorer coolly slotted the ball home.

As both teams tired in the final minutes the match went into injury time. Essien scored a pile driver from twenty meters five minutes in, but it was ruled out. Nicolas Anelka was offside and was adjudged by the linesman to have impeded Reina's vision.

However, it was to be an academic sidenote. Hyppia needlessly fouled Ballack on the edge of the box in full view of the referee who did not hesitate to sentence a penalty shot.

The lonely star, Frank Lampard, made no mistake from the spot and celebrated emotionally less than a week after the death of his mother.

For every blue fan happiness, Drogba sealed the time at the end of the first 15 minutes after substitute Nicolas Anelka set him up.

Finally, Ryan Babel scored a stunning goal from over thirty yards with five minutes left on the clock, but Liverpool couldn't capitalize, and Chelsea goes through. Dream over for Benitez' side.

Rafa Benitez wants to stay for a long time

2008-04-18T23:34:00.000-07:00

The popular Spanish coach Rafael Benitez reaffirmed his commitment with the club by making clear his desire to "stay for a long time" ahead of today's visit to Fulham and Tuesday's Champions League semi-final against Chelsea FC.

Indeed, Benitez had cast grave doubts about his long-term future at Anfield last weekend in the row over exactly who attended meetings before Christmas with Jurgen Klinsmann when the manager's job was discussed.

The current Liverpool manager demanded answers from co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, plus chief executive Rick Parry, but speaking yesterday he refused to discuss the ownership battle or any meetings he may have had with his bosses and said instead: "At this moment I have two years of my contract still to go, I am absolutely happy here. And I want to stay. And I want to stay for a long time."

Later, asked if he had spoken to Hicks, Gillett or Parry, the manager assured: "I do not need to talk to them, I need to talk with my staff and my players. We have been training and all I want to talk about is the matches against Fulham and then Chelsea."

Liverpool about to face a vital game against United

2008-03-22T21:11:00.000-07:00

Liverpool FC may be out of contention for the Premiership trophy but coach Rafael Benitez's side could still have a major say in the outcome of the title battle on what could be a decisive Easter weekend.

In fact, having watched his men hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks, Benitez will travel to Old Trafford on Sunday confident they can finally claim the league victory over Manchester United that has eluded the Reds in seven previous attempts since their Spanish boss' arrival at Anfield in 2004.

And with Chelsea facing Arsenal on the same day, such an outcome could have major repercussions for United, who start the weekend as favourites to retain the title after opening up a three-point advantage over the Gunners and five away from Chelsea.

The Anfield team have put together a run of seven straight wins, largely thanks to the sharper cutting edge they have displayed since Steven Gerrard was switched to an attacking role on the heels of forward star Fernando Torres.

It's important to say taht Torres has plundered 27 goals already this season while Gerrard needs one more to hit the 20 mark for only the second time in his career.

"The understanding between our players is always important, especially players up front," Benitez admitted. "The partnership between Torres and captain Gerrard has made a massive difference, it is difficult for teams to stop them both. We are profiting from this."

Benitez' side have also looked more solid defensively of late with Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso both operating as holding players in midfield, but any defensive system is bound to be strained under the pressure generated by a United attack spearheaded by the apparently unstoppable Cristiano Ronaldo. However, everyone in Liverpool feel ready for the challenge.

Gerrard says the press twisted his words

2008-03-05T01:31:00.001-08:00

Last week, the media in England branded it an outburst and even went as far as suggesting that Gerrard's heart is not in the Champions League. Naturally, the England international was keen to alleviate the misconception by defining his real position.

"I think that as captain of the club it's very easy for your words to be twisted into something that doesn't really reflect the interview," Gerrard said.

"The real message I was trying to get across was that we are disappointed with where we are in the league, but that we're going to try to get into the top four and improve our league situation next season. Hopefully while we're going along we can get to another Champions League title. That would be a really great season.

"But the headlines got twisted into 'If we win the Champions League it won't be important' – which is nonsense, and that is not what I meant at all. There won't be anyone happier in Liverpool than me if we do get the Champions League crown again. Istanbul was the best night of my football career and if we go on to achieve that again it will be right up there with that.

"But, because we're at Liverpool FC, even if we do win it, we'll still worry about and try to improve our league form. We are winners and we want to try to win every competition we are in.

Having made the intention behind his comments clear, the popular Steven Gerrard went on to elaborate on his original comment.

"I think that the important thing short-term is to get in that fourth position, then we can re-group in the summer and have another go at winning the league. The players here know we've underachieved in the premier league this year. You go back to before the Aston Villa game and we believed we could still be in the title race. That's disappointing but now we've got to finish as high as possible this year and have another go the next one."

Chelsea beat Liverpool out of the Carling Cup

2007-12-20T14:14:00.000-08:00

Liverpool fans didn't expect this results, but it's over now. The reds are out of the Carling Cup, as Chelsea got a 2-0 win and reached the semis.

It was a tough game, were Peter Crouch was incensed at what he saw as two attempts by Mikel to stud him from the knee down in the moments leading up to his ill-advised two-footed lunge at the Nigerian. Despite minimal contact on Mikel, there was little option for referee Atkinson other than to dismiss Crouch – just as Didier Zokora and Denilson found themselves red-carded on Tuesday night for raising their studs.

In fact, the incident over-shadowed the goals from Frank Lampard and Andrei Shevchenko that gave Chelsea their place in the semi-final especially when Benitez accused the referee of inconsistency. He might have a point when you consider that Steed Malbranque's brutal challenge on Vedran Corluka in Tottenham's win over Manchester City went unpunished, but even Benitez had to concede that Peter Crouch's challenge itself was "maybe" a red card.

"I have watched the replay twice and Mikel was trying to kick Crouch," Benitez admitted. "If the referee had blown his whistle he would have avoided the sending off. He was kicked twice and that was the reason Crouch lost his head. I have seen more dangerous tackles. Sometimes they are yellow cards, sometimes they are nothing. He just needed to stop it before."

According to the people who were close to him, Crouch was furious at what he saw as play-acting from Mikel who, despite playing dead by the touchline, was back on his feet a few minutes later. By then the game was well out of Liverpool's reach. Avram Grant may have been appointed to win the Champions League, but for now it looks like he is happy to settle for Carling Cup.

The Israeli made seven changes from the team that lost to Arsenal on Sunday, but this was still virtually the strongest squad that he could field in the circumstances. Benitez picked the likes of Jamie Carragher and Xabi Alonso but let his imagination run wild with the rest of the formation. He chose a 4-3-3 system that became 4-5-1 for most of the match and left Crouch isolated and frustrated.

With Andriy Voronin on the right wing and Ryan Babel on the left, Liverpool created too little. The Brazilian Lucas Leiva exerted only a sporadic influence from the space behind Crouch. The pick of the half was a flick from Crouch that played in Leiva who missed; and an identical opportunity for Lampard at the other end that he could not lift over Liverpool goalkeeper Charles Itandje.

It was a clash that cried out for a bit of invention and when Joe Cole replaced Scott Sinclair on 56 minutes the Chelsea manager had gambled on virtually his strongest formation.

Before then Itandje had made a brilliant one-handed save from Michael Essien's shot. At the other end an error from Ricardo Carvalho, back for the first time since 11 November, gave Crouch a half-chance to lob Petr Cech which he could not lift over the Chelsea goalkeeper. Then came a goal that proved to Grant he has not used up all his luck just getting the Chelsea job.

Shortly before the hour the controversial Shevchenko knocked down a ball on the edge of the area into the stride of Lampard who got his shot away just as the ubiquitous Carragher lunged across to block. The Liverpool captain was having another one of his giant games, but he will probably wish he had not got a heel to this shot. It bounced down against the turf and looped over Itandje to give Chelsea the lead.

Crouch's sending off followed the goal, the fourth of his career after red cards playing for Queens Park Rangers, Norwich City and Southampton. A blue fan as a child, he was a ball boy at Stamford Bridge in his youth and he has certainly had better nights at the stadium than this. "I think he didn't need to do it," Grant stated. Chelsea are hardly in a position to moralise after the brawl in last season's Carling Cup final saw Mikel sent off.

Grant had asked for protection from referees for his players and he got it last night. Captain Terry had the last word on the challenge that left him with three broken bones in his foot on Sunday. In his programme notes, the Chelsea defender accused Emmanuel Eboue of having "left his studs in" in the crucial challenge that did the damage.

German talent Michael Ballack was given a run-out as a substitute, his first game in eight months out with an ankle injury, and Shevchenko added the second in injury-time. By then, the Carling Cup was starting to look like more trouble than it was worth for Liverpool.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Belletti, Ben Haim, Carvalho, Bridge; Mikel (Ballack, 68); Kalou, Essien, Lampard, Sinclair (Cole, 57); Shevchenko (Sidwell, 90). Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk), Ferreira.

Liverpool (4-4-1-1): Itandje; Arbeloa, Hobbs, Carragher, Aurelio; Voronin, Alonso (El Zhar, 60), Sissoko, Babel (Benayoun, 73); Leiva; Crouch. Substitutes not used: Martin (gk), Hyypia, Riise.

Liverpool got a bright start in the EPL

2007-08-13T09:51:00.001-07:00

In the Liverpool most important team, the Captain is considered almost a national hero. Even if he hadn't scored in a long time ago. Because when he appears, Liverpool can get important victories, like the last one over Aston Villa, by 2-1.

Indeed, Steven Gerrard took 14 games to score his first league goal last season, by which time Liverpool were floundering in mid-table with Man. U. long over the horizon. This campaign was 87 minutes old, with all the familiar doubts about Liverpool's away form resurfacing, when he won and scored the free-kick which earned the first opening-day win since 2002. That the free-kick was a soft decision only confirmed Steven Gerrard's stature. As Sheffield United found on the opening day last season, referees have a habit of saying "yes" when Gerrard appeals.

Afterwards, confided John Arne Riise, the Super Captain addressed the team in the changing room, driving home the need for the Reds to make a good start. Champions League qualifying means they will miss the midweek round offixtures. Losing to Villa could have sent them into the home game with Chelsea on Saturday six points adrift.

"Finally we have three points from the first league encounter," Dirk Kuyt praised. "That was important for us. It's very important that you don't lose many points at the start of the season. We have been too far behind in the last few seasons. We had a very good second half last season. But that's not good enough if you want to be champions."

The problem, last season, was results like these. Liverpool finished 21 points behind Manchester United. The gap was almost entirely attributable to their away form. On the road United won 42 points, Liverpool 22. And Liverpool scored 18 goals away, fewer than Wigan and less than half United's tally.

"We really need to score goals away, then we will win a lot of games," said coach Rafa Benitez, logically enough.

To that end all his most important new plyers are ofensive: Fernando Torres, who started, Ryan Babel and Andrei Voronin, who both came off the bench, and Yossi Benayoun who was left, with Javier Mascherano and Peter Crouch, in Liverpool with a view to Wednesday's European qualifier in Toulouse.

Spaniard frontman Torres looked sharp. His finishing was wayward but his speed of thought and footwork was impressive. He also showed a goodunderstanding with Kuyt. But the Dutchman is also a haphazard finisher and one wonders who will get the necessary goals.

Kuyt's qualities created the opening goal, but it required of a Villa player to score it. Kuyt's dummy gave Torres the chance to draw the first of many fine saves from Stuart Taylor. The Dutch player, a great chaser of lost causes, then collected Taylor's parry and his cross was inadvertently turned in by Martin Laursen.

Benitez team should have gone on to secure the three points with ease. Some of their interplay was superb, though it helped that Villa's midfield was unbalanced and unsure of their roles. And Aston Villa stayed in the game through Taylor. Lastseason the former under-21 international played five matches and conceded ten goals. On the eve of this he was given the confidence-sapping news that Martin O'Neill, concerned by a hamstring strain to Sorensen, had signed Scott Carson on a season-long loan. WithCarson ineligible, Taylor had 90 minutes to show his ability, and he took it.

So, when Barry converted a late penalty after Jamie Carragher's reflex handball it seemed Taylor's heroics would win a point. Then Mike Riley misjudged Stilian Petrov's tackle on Steven Gerrard and the Englishman curled the free-kick over the wall.

"Gerrard remains the heartbeat of that club," O'Neill expressed. "He drives them. He's a great, great player, and he looks as if he is even improving." If only the Villa manager could inject the same desire into John Carew. He also needs a right-back, which would enable the promising Craig Gardner to move into midfield, and more defensive role. A glossy American-influenced brochure was given to fans before the game. It contained the promise, from chief executive Richard Fitzgerald, that "We aim to play a big role in the Champions League". On this evidence, they remain a long way off and the optimism which filled Villa Park could soon disappear.

TLiverpool, meanwhile, walk on with hope in their hearts and a weight off their shoulders. "We were talking before the game," said Benitez. "We knew it was very important to get the thre points: everybody was talking about the pressure."

Even though coach Benitez says Liverpool are still a long waybehind Manchester United and Chelsea, many supporters and journalists disagree. For them it is time to wrest the title back from the Florida franchise, sorry, Old Trafford.

Goals: Laursen og (31) 0-1; Barry pen (85) 1-1; Gerrard (87) 1-2.

Aston Villa: Taylor; Gardner, Mellberg, Laursen (Cahill, 46), Bouma (Moore, 71); Petrov, Reo-Coker, Barry; Agbonlahor, Carew, Young. Substitutes not used: Harewood, Maloney, Osbourne (gk).

Liverpool: Reina; Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa; Pennant (Babel, 74), Gerrard, Alonso, Riise; Torres (Voronin, 79), Kuyt (Sissoko, 90). Substitutes not used: Itandje (gk), Hyypia.

Referee: M Riley (Yorkshire).

Man of the match: Steven Gerrard.

Liverpool is closer to the European Glory as they defeated Chelsea in the semifinals

2007-05-01T23:59:00.000-07:00

The Red fans will never forget the emotions they felt this night. Benitez's team defeated Chelsea 4-1 on penalties to reach the Champions League final match for the second time in three seasons yesterday. And that is remarkable

Indeed, Liverpool got their second leg ended 1-0 after extra time with the only goal scored by from Danish defender Daniel Agger after 22 minutes.

And with the tie ending locked in a 1-1 stalemate after Chelsea's 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge last week, the stage was set for the first penalty shootout at the semifinal stage since the Champions League replaced the old European Cup in 1992.

It's important to mention that the only goal of a nerve-wracking 120 minutes came following a free-kick from talented captain Steven Gerrard. The midfielder sent a hard-low cross towards the edge of the Chelsea penalty area rather than an expected high ball to the centre of it. Agger played his part perfectly, sweeping in a well-struck shot that swerved just inside the post and into the Chelsea FC net out of the reach of goalkeeper Cech.

Liverpool Spanish manager Rafa Benitez said afterwards: "Every player and every supporter was a real hero tonight. The team all worked very hard - against a very good team. I was confident in the footballers (for the penalties). It's just that they like to practise penalties every day after training."

And Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho admitted: "There is little to say. This is a moment where everyone has to be strong. I think that our players have a lot of reasons to be proud of themselves. We were the best team today, even against a team playing only in the Champions League. Football is like this and we must to be strong to face it."

For the records, Boudewijn Zenden, Xabi Alonso, Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt all converted their penalties for Liverpool while an amazing goalkeeper Pepe Reina saved penalties by Chelsea's Arjen Robben and Geremi to send Liverpool through to the seventh European Cup final in their history against either Manchester United or AC Milan in Athens on May 23.

During the game, the chances were few and far between for both sides with Peter Crouch seeing a header saved by Cech's feet on the line after 55 minutes and Dirk Kuyt heading against the Chelsea crossbar after 59 minutes.

At the other end, African star Didier Drogba drew a fine save from Pepe Reina after 32 minutes. Kuyt had a second goal ruled out for offside in extra time, but scored the final penalty to give Liverpool their 4-1 winning margin.

In fact, Liverpool took the game to Chelsea and made good use of towering striker Peter Crouch and scored from their first scoring with Agger putting them in front in a well-worked move.

Blue midfielder Joe Cole conceded a free kick on the left and Gerrard, instead of lifting the ball high into the area, squared it low for Agger to curve a low first-time shot just inside the post and wide of Cech into the back of the Chelsea net.

And that goal, which looked as if it had come straight from Liverpool's training field, roused Chelsea players from their lethargy and it took a good block by Reds keeper Jose Reina to stop Drogba's angled shot on the run after 32 minutes.

The Anfield fans, which had been belting out their passionate support since kickoff, made sure the atmospere stayed electric as Liverpool FC turned the screw on the English champions.

It's fair to say that Liverpool always looked the hungrier of the two sides, underlined by Boudewijn Zenden's fierce 25-metre shot from the left flank which Cech only gathered at the second attempt. However, there was no breaking the deadlock over two legs, sending the game into extra time and ultimately to the penalty shootout. And then Liverpool just wrote another important page in their history.

Liverpool could share their brand new stadium with Everton

2007-03-28T22:57:00.000-07:00

Indeed, the American businessmen George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who on Monday announced that they had secured the 98.6 per cent of the club's shares they needed to compulsorily purchase the remainder, want to make Liverpool's new Stanley Park stadium even bigger than the planned 60,000-capacity. However, in order to reach that objective, they will need council permission.

Anfield's team have always ruled out sharing with Everton but the city council leader, Warren Bradley, wants them to reconsider.

Bradley expressed: "They have got their guys [Dallas firm HKS] looking at designs, infrastructure and everything.

"Are you telling me a commercial business in America doesn't sweat the asset? They sweat that asset until they can't get any more out of it. I think that if they can consider increasing the stadium size, why can't they consider a shared new stadium?"

And Everton are pondering a move to a site outside Liverpool in Kirby but Bradley - a Blues season-ticket holder - believes Goodison Park could be redeveloped. "I think maybe in a few years' time they'll be playing in a new stadium and I think it will be in Liverpool. I would be happy with a joint stadium, I've got to be honest, even if my gut feeling is probably not."

And he also said: "I don't see any reason why Goodison Park cannot be redeveloped. You could quite easily fit an additional footprint and some commercial activity - a hotel, for example - into a new development."

Liverpool defeat Sheffield United 4-0

2007-02-25T21:20:00.000-08:00

Liverpool didn't have enough with Barcelona. The Reds are in a very productive week, and they proved it by crushing Sheffield United 4-0.

"I think we're better playing now after Champions League matches," Dirk Kuyt admitted. His touch made light of Peter Crouch's early departure with a broken nose and cut requiring 11 stitches. "We showed strength again and we're really progressing."

Sheffield United had a very poor performance, and that was the main reason for Liverpool's victory.

Indeed, in crumpling to a fifth successive away defeat, they conceded one questionable penalty - well, there are going to be two or three every game if Bennett's clampdown on set-piece grappling becomes standard - and a clear-cut one. Twenty-five minutes, 2-0, game over.

Actually, Neil Warnock believes referees need advice from ex-players to humanise a job based on the rule book but his engaging allegation that Steven Gerrard, recipient of an even more contentious award in Sheffield in August, had pulled a gamesmanship trick was less damning than the summary of his own footballer.

"I think we were so negative in the first half," he expressed. "The penalties just knocked the stuffing out of us."

We must mention that there was promise from Javier Mascherano, a debutant whose composure in the midfield sitting role gave Gerrard freedom in his favourite position to cause untold damage.

The captain rounded the slaughter off with a lovely flourish and, on an afternoon when Jerzy Dudek played his first League game of the season and Hyypia scored his first Premier League goal of 2006-07, there were echoes of the more distant past.

What's more, the less prolific Andriy Voronin is being lined up from Bayer Leverkusen and Benitez recognises that a hole is looming. "Robbie is a really good finisher, the best we have," he admitted. "If he's not with us next season, we'll need to look for another like him."

The goal of Anfield side were scored by Fowler ('18 and '25), Hyypia ('71) and the captain Steven Gerrard.

Line-ups:

Liverpool (4-4-2): Dudek; Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher (Agger, 77), Riise; Pennant, Mascherano, Gerrard (Alonso, 74), Gonzalez; Crouch (Kuyt, 21), Fowler. Substitutes not used: Padelli (gk), Sissoko.

Sheffield United (4-5-1): Kenny; Kozluk (Kazim-Richards, 25), Jagielka, Lucketti (Morgan, 32), Armstrong; Geary, Tonge, Montgomery, Fathi, S Quinn (Stead, 66); Hulse. Substitutes not used: Davis, A Quinn.

Preview: Newcastle United vs. Liverpool FC

2007-02-09T14:54:00.000-08:00

Liverpool is about to play an important game against Newcastle United, and both teams are trying to have their best players fit for the match.

Newcastle's defender Celestine Babayaro could return to the starting line-up of his team. Kieron Dyer is fit despite suffering from the after-effects of his exertions for England in midweek, but full-back Stephen Carr could be sidelined for a month with the thigh injury which forced him to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland team.

In the other shore, Liverpool will have captain Steven Gerrard in the squad after he played just 45 minutes for England in midweek due to a 'niggling' injury picked up last weekend in the Merseyside clash with Everton.

What's more, Spanish player Xabi Alonso misses the Barclays Premiership match at St James Park due to a one-match suspension.

SO, manager Rafael Benitez could also call in Mohamed Sissoko, who has been back in full training following a dislocated shoulder sustained at Birmingham in November.

These are the starting teams:

Newcastle United: Harper, Srnicek, Solano, Babayaro, Edgar, Taylor, Bramble, Onyewu, Huntington, Butt, Parker, Milner, Duff, Pattison, Troisi, Gate, Martins, Dyer, Sibierski, Luque, Carroll, LuaLua.

Liverpool FC: Reina, Finnan, Agger, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Aurelio, Pennant, Gerrard, Sissoko, Zenden, Bellamy, Crouch, Kuyt, Fowler, Gonzalez, Arbeloa, Dudek.

Rafa Benitez responds to Steve Gibson

2007-02-09T14:50:00.000-08:00

Surprisingly, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez decided to respond to Middlesbrough chief Steve Gibson about his negative words against his club's contribution to English football.

We mus remember that Gibson defended Steve McClaren by saying that English football is suffering the side-effects of having arguably the most successful league in the world, where teams agendas often conflict with national concerns. In fact, he expressed:"The Liverpools and the Arsenals, what do they contribute at national level?"

So, Rafa Benitez answered: "It is very easy to answer this, I just say Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Peter Crouch, and Jermaine Pennant. They were all in the England team this week.

"And we also have Scott Carson with the England Under-21s. We have more English players than many teams, and we are working to develop English young talent through our Academy and the reserves.

"As you can see, I am trying for a mix of good English and Spanish players, but everybody understands the English market.

"Indeed, we are working hard to bring English players through and I hope we can, but if you want to win things you have to try for the best if they are not available at the right price in England and Europe."

Javier Mascherano joins the team

2007-02-06T23:24:00.000-08:00

Argentinian talent Javier Mascherano has arrived on Merseyside to begin training with the squad as Liverpool await the go-ahead to play the Southamerican.

According to official sources, the move is still being discussed by the Premier League despite FIFA giving the all-clear for the 18-month loan move to be completed.

However, Mascherano was at Liverpool's Melwood training ground on Monday and coach Rafael Benitez believes it will just be a matter of time before he can hand the 22-year-old his debut.

"In fact, Mascherano is here now. We are still waiting for an answer but we think it will be okay for our new player to train with the squad. He needs to be able to train so he can be ready to play when he's needed," Benitez expressed.

Link to us

2007-02-06T23:12:00.000-08:00

Support Liverpool! Add one of this buttons to your own site or blog by pasting this code:

Text Link:

Liverpool

Small Button:

Big Button:

Gillet and Hicks to buy Liverpool for $343 million

2007-02-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

Liverpool Football Club agreed to a takeover offer worth 174 million pounds ($343 million) from American sports tycoons George Gillett and Tom Hicks, just five days from Dubai's rejection to English football's most successful club.

In fact, Gillett and Hicks, the founder of leveraged-buyout firm HM Capital Partners LLC, will pay 5,000 pounds a share, Liverpool announced. The pair will also take on debt of 44.8 million pounds and fund a brand new stadium costing 215 million pounds.

"It is just the beginning of a new era," Liverpool Chief Executive Rick Parry said at a press conference. "They are bringing to the table tremendous and relevant experience, a passion for sport, real resources and a strong commitment to Liverpool."

The accord caps a week of acrimony in which Liverpool accused Dubai International Capital LLC of bullying shareholders into backing its offer, 11 percent less than today's tender. In fact, Liverpool, which won the last of its record 18 English league titles in 1990, has been seeking an investor for the past three years and is now poised to become the third elite English club to be bought by owners of U.S. sports franchises.

According to the experts Hicks paid $250 million for Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers in 1998 and owns the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars.

We must mention that Gillett owns ice hockey's Montreal Canadiens and used to run Miami Dolphins of the National Football League and basketball's Harlem Globetrotters. He's also chairman of Booth Creek Ski Holdings Inc., which operates six U.S. ski resorts. He has great experience that will help the Reds.

Save this Liverpool wallpapers on your desktop!

2007-02-05T13:42:00.000-08:00

Choose your wallpaper, then click on the images to open it. When you see the wallpaper expanded, right click on it and select "Save image as".

800 x 600

1024 x 768

800 x 600

1024 x 768

800 x 600

1024 x 768

Liverpool 2006/2007 Squad

2007-02-05T03:34:00.000-08:00

1 - POR - Jerzy Dudek
3 - DEF - Steve Finnan
4 - DEF - Sami Hyypiä
5 - DEF - Daniel Agger
6 - DEF - John Arne Riise
7 - MED - Harry Kewell
8 - MED - Steven Gerrard
9 - DEL - Robbie Fowler
10 - MED - Luis García
11 - MED - Mark González
12 - DEF - Fábio Aurélio
14 - MED - Xabi Alonso
15 - DEL - Peter Crouch
16 - MED - Jermaine Pennant
17 - DEL - Craig Bellamy
18 - DEL - Dirk Kuyt
22 - MED - Mohamed Sissoko
23 - DEF - Jamie Carragher
25 - POR - José Reina
26 - MED - Paul Anderson
28 - DEF - Stephen Warnock
29 - DEF - Gabriel Paletta
32 - MED - Boudewijn Zenden
33 - DEL - Neil Mellor
35 - MED - Danny Guthrie
36 - MED - Adam Hammill
37 - MED - Lee Peltier
38 - DEL - Craig Lindfield
39 - DEF - Stephen Darby

These are our site's images

2007-02-05T02:19:00.000-08:00

Liverpool is closer to the title after brilliant win over West Ham

2007-01-31T20:38:00.000-08:00

It was a unique gift for Peter Crouch. The English forward celebrated his 26th birthday by scoring his team’s winner in a 2-1 win over West Ham United that put his side in the thick of the title race.

Second-half goals from Dutch frontman Dirk Kuyt and Crouch made it nine wins from 10 league games for Liverpool, who have 49 points from 25 matches. Chelsea FC have 51 and leaders Manchester United are on 57, both from 24 games.

It's important to say that West Ham’s Spanish player Kepa Blanco came off the bench to score on his debut in the 77th minute, but the London club remain mired in the drop zone, 18th in the table. Reading moved up to eighth with a 3-2 comeback win over Wigan Athletic, who are just above the relegation places after suffering a club record eighth league defeat in a row.

We must notice that Liverpool had to battle for their FA Cup final triumph over West Ham United last season, and now they were clearly on a roll after beating Chelsea in their last league outing and made a good start.

West Ham was directed by Alan Curbishley, and they soaked up the pressure and finished the stronger of the two sides at the break, creating a couple of chances. Despite that effort, their hopes were dashed right from the restart, when Liverpool kicked off, went straight up the West Ham end and scored after 10 seconds when Kuyt arrowed a shot in off the bar. Crouch rounded off a fine passing move by making it 2-0 with a deft 20-metre sidefoot off a John Arne Riise pass soon afterwards and Liverpool looked good for the points despite Blanco’s late strike.

Rafael Benitez, who raised a few smiles from his players by slipping over on the touchline while trying to control the ball, played down the prospect of becoming champions: “We cannot think about the title,” he admitted.

Excellent win over Bolton

2007-01-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

This time the Reds were really fantastic. Liverpool Football Club crushed Bolton 3-0 to leapfrog its North West rivals and go third in the local tournament.

We msu say that Bolton had only one effort on goal at Anfield and was made to pay with two goals in two minutes midway through the second part of the match from Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard.

And Dirk Kuyt then struck his seventh goal of the season late on to cap Liverpool's ninth victory in 11 home games this term and stretch its unbeaten home record to 27 league clashes.

It's fair to say that Bolton frustrated Liverpool in the early stages, with Abdoulaye Faye blocking a volley from Kuyt before goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen tipped over a 20-metre strike from Steve Finnan.

But Liverpool kept the pressure on with Xabi Alonso curling an effort wide from just outside the box while midfielder Mark Gonzalez also fired off-target.

Talented striker Crouch, who started in place of the injured Craig Bellamy, headed wide from Finnan's 36th-minute cross but made amends on the hour mark with just his third league goal of the season.

Kuyt and Jermaine Pennant made a good combination on the right before Crouch converted Pennant's cross with an acrobatic volley.

What's more, Kuyt was involved again when Gerrard doubled the lead within 83 seconds, volleying home superbly from the Dutchman's centre.

And Peter Crouch had two great opportunities for a second while Jaaskelainen saved well from Sami Hyypia but Kuyt got his goal with eight minutes remaining, firing home from a Luis Garcia pass.

Blackburn defeated Liverpool 1-0

2006-12-26T22:41:00.000-08:00

Nobody in the Premiership would have predicted it. But an early second-half goal propelled Blackburn Rovers to an incredible 1-0 win over a wasteful Liverpool team.

Indeed, profligate finishing was the reason Liverpool did not score in the first half, Craig Bellamy firing wide and striker Peter Crouch forcing two saves out of Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

And it's fair to say that those misses would come back to haunt the Reds as Benni McCarthy put the side in front in the 49th minute when he tucked home a cross by Morten Gamst Pedersen after some fine initial work by Tugay.

Keeper Friedel, who had a fine performance against his former club, later saved from substitute Dirk Kuyt, but he was fortunate to see a thunderous shot by Xabi Alonso crash off the goalpost.

We must mention that Alonso then had a late shot saved beautifully by Friedel, preserving the three points for the Ewood Park outfit, helping a bit to ease their fears of relegation.

New date for Liverpool-Arsenal clash

2006-12-20T13:32:00.000-08:00

According to official sources, the Carling Cup quarter-final match between Liverpool and Arsenal will now take place on Tuesday 9th of January.

In fact, the re-arranged clash will kick-off at the usual time of 7:45 (UK time) and it is expected that the match will be televised.

The encounter was originally scheduled to be played last night, but due to intense fog the referee decided that it would be impossible to officiate.

We can confirm that after consulting with his linesmen, the decision to cancel the game was taken.

Both Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez and his counterpart Arsene Wenger were adamant that the game must have been played. It is understood that both managers were concerned about fixture congestion.

Finally, the re-arranged game will be the second time in four days that the two sides will have faced each other, with the small matter of an FA Cup tie taking place three days previously on the 6th of January. The games is one of the most expected ones of the tournament.

Galatasaray beat the Reds in the Champions League

2006-12-06T10:09:00.000-08:00

In an interesting game, Galatasaray came from a goal behind to beat Liverpool 3-2 in their final Group C encounter on Tuesday. We must remember that the English team returned to the scene of their 2005 Champions League final triumph.

In fact, he game had little significance with Liverpool having already won the group. The Turkish side finished fourth despite earning what was the only victory of their campaign.

"I really believe we can be proud of the team because they fought until the last minute," said Galatasaray boss Erik Gerets.

The coach also mentioned that his team failed to advance in the competition because it "lacked some international quality".

Amazingly, there were three goals in a six-minute flurry in the middle of the first half.

Veteran forward Robbie Fowler put the visitors ahead after 22 minutes, knocking the ball into the net from close range after Craig Bellamy picked him out with a cross from the left wing.

Dubai International Capital to invest in Liverpool

2006-12-04T22:26:00.000-08:00

In Anfield, official sources have confirmed that Liverpool have opened talks with a Dubai based consortium over a potential takeover of the Merseyside club.

As we know, DIC is the international investment arm of Dubai Holding, and they have been given the green light to begin negotiations over a £450 million buyout of the Reds, who are historically the most successful club in English football.

A club statement announced: "Liverpool Football Club confirms it has entered into a period of exclusive negotiations with Dubai International Capital about a possible investment in the club."

In fact, no deal has yet been agreed and the detail of any transaction, which may or may not include a formal offer by DIC for Liverpool Football Club, is still to be confirmed."

It's important to say that Liverpool would be joining an ever-growing list of Premiership clubs to be taken over by foreign investors.

Gerrard guides Liverpool to the victory over City

2006-11-26T19:43:00.000-08:00

Captain Steven Gerrard scored his first Premier League goal of the season, but that was enough to bring back the smiles to Anfield. The midfielder guided Liverpool to a 1-0 home win over Manchester City on Saturday.

Steven Gerrard crashed a swerving shot past Nicky Weaver in the 67th minute after Dutchman Dirk Kuyt intercepted Joey Barton's poor pass.

Before that goal, Manchester City had frustrated Liverpool and might have taken the lead themselves had Bernardo Corradi taken a couple of reasonable opportunities.

After the game, coach Rafael Benitez admitted that his team had to work very hard top achieve this result.

"Before the match we had a lot of strikers and defenders but only two central midfielders fit in Steven Gerrard and Bolo Zenden so we had to make some changes tactically and work very hard," said Benitez.

"We didn't find the space we needed in the first half and Manchester City worked hard in defence and were aggressive in midfield, but in the second part we had more space and more possibilities and Steven netted an excellent goal.

"It's very important for Steven to score goals because it gives him more confidence. He is playing well now but I think and he knows he can play much better because he is a player with a lot of quality and is really important for us."